THE MOVE TO SASKATOON chapter 92

We checked into the same motel where I had stayed, had breakfast at the same restaurant while sitting at the same table. We were at University Drive Alliance by 9:00 a.m. where we met the church secretary and got the key to “our” first house. Well, not ours. It belonged to the church, but we occupied it.

We began unloading our car (took about 20 minutes) and began to put things where we thought they should go. Della organized the Kitchen while I unpacked boxes. Walter and his wife Doris arrived so she could meet us. She brought a few groceries to get us started. We went talked about our physical needs. Furniture was the top priority. He put us on to Rose Furniture. The owner, Barry, went to the church. He called Barry and set up an appointment for us. We waited until Eaton’s arrived with the bed. They set it up, we made the bed and left to meet Barry Rose.

We certainly did not want to buy what we did not need immediately. Della was already a skilled money manager. She knew what we had to spend and watched how we spent it to make sure it was going spread to all we needed. That was a challenge. Barry was a salesman. He was ready to make a whale of a deal on furniture for the entire house. We went in for a table and chairs, but caved in. We purchased that plus a sofa, armchair, two end tables, a coffee table and two lamps. Admittedly the living room looked better with furniture. His crew delivered the next morning.

On Friday, September 2, I was in my office with my two boxes of books (all school text books). The secretary got me set up with office stuff. It took a few minutes to unload the boxes and the real questions began. What do I do now? The weekend was clear. I did not need to work on Saturday, I would be interviewed in both services on Sunday and there would be a reception for us after the evening service.

Later Friday morning I met with the pastor who gave me a run down on upcoming events. Our church would host the annual conference of the Canadian Midwest District. I was told I would work with two women on housing for all the incoming pastors and lay people. Also I would need to go over the list of committees and assign meetings rooms and have signs prepared, Bt the time lunch came, I had lots to do. The conference was in three weeks.

It had only been a few months since we left school, and there would likely be some guys arriving with whom I just gradated. We all wanted to be pastors. While I wasn’t a senior pastor, I was in the largest church. How would my friends react? My job would be a surprise.

At lunch I learned Della had been quite busy herself. She had finished inventorying the kitchen and had begun making a list of things we still needed. Strange, I thought we got everything we needed. Admittedly, twelve teapots were a little much. I didn’t even drink tea (but I would learn). She had moved several things we did not need or would never use into the extra bedroom. She had already decided most of those items would go on to friends being married the following summer (re-gifting). That took care of the teapots.

That afternoon, the Sunday school superintendent came by for a visit. He wanted me to know that everything was ready for fall. He had a full compliment of teachers and he went over the curriculum in detail with me. It became clear he was informing me as a courtesy. He neither wanted my help nor needed it. He had been the superintendent for over twenty years and knew exactly what needed to be done and I would be of no use to him, “son.” When he didn’t call me “son,” he called me “boy.” It was a real confidence builder.

I was the “new” Christian Education Director and I was being relieved of the largest single responsibility in the field in the church. Now what do I do? There was one youth group. It was a College and Career group run by two Russian brothers – the Repetski’s. There was no board of Christian Education, something I was taught we needed. There was a Christian Service Brigade, two levels, and Pioneer Girls. That was it.

I was totally confused. Nothing was like I was told the model church should be and I had already been told the parents of teens did not want a youth program. Yeah! I’m here. I get to be the errand boy. Well, if that will be my role I was determined to be the best errand boy I could be. I had a job in a church. I felt completely at peace.

BE IT EVER SO HUMBLE chapter 91

We arrived in Red Deer two days earlier than anyone expected. We went directly to our new to us apartment. Our friends had already been there, that was both good and bad.

They had brought most of our wedding gifts to the apartment, but they had also decorated in the way of an old fashioned charivari. For those who may not know that tradition, they made a mess of the apartment. Here we both thought our landlady liked us, but she let them in.

It looked like a thief had broken in
and dumped their garbage.

Ron checking the the light works

We had been given a pole lamp and it was hung wall to wall. We probably should have left it that way, as it would have thrown more light around that dull dark living room.  There was a fold down sofa that Ralph and I slept on the night before the wedding. It was folded sown and standing against a wall. All our things were piled in the living room. At least it had not been unpacked and spread everywhere. What few dishes I had where still in the cupboard, but in no order that made sense. There was honey on doorknobs and the toilet seat. A normal part of this type of “celebration.” They short sheeted the bed. They could not have really done anything else. The bed was already shaped like the hull of a boat.

Cleaning up some of the mess.

I am not quite sure how word got out, but before the night was over piles of kids showed up to welcome us home. It was a good thing they brought food. There was nothing to eat in that place. We also celebrated Garths birthday. He was still in town from the wedding.

Happy Birthday Garth.

After cleaning up the place enough to sleep that night, we got at it the next day, and both returned to work the day after.

Our big concern now was what we would do when my job at Alpha Dairy ran out the first week of September. I had heard nothing from Rev. Orthner and already knew no other district wanted me. Rather than letting that be our focus we jumped into a summer of Alliance Youth Fellowship (AYF). We held a Bible study at our apartment. This group was mostly one Della had been in church with for years. Several were couples that would be married the flowing year.

I loved hanging out with and getting to know these people. Every meeting was fun. I felt like I have been with them for years.

Banff Springs Hotel from the only view poor people see.

Della had a string of strange shifts coming at AGT with a schedule where we would barely see each other.  Three or four of the guys wanted to go camping in Banff and asked me to come. We stayed in a campsite somewhat near the town. I can remember that we walked from the campsite downtown and eventually made it over to the Banff Hotel. Maybe we drove from our campsite, parked and then walked – who knows that was 40 years ago. I can’t remember all the guys, but I’m pretty sure Ron was one of them. The strangest thing on the visit was walking by a small hotel with rooms right up by the sidewalk. Passing one room with the lights out and hearing some moaning, we could see though a glass darkly a couple doing what couples do when they don’t think anyone else is around. I’m sorry, but it was very funny. I don’t think they noticed us and we did not linger.

Near the end of summer, I reactivated my back problems. This was the first trouble since I helped moved that stupid VW Bug between two trees when in high school. Dr. Smith told me it was inevitable I would hurt is again. I did it moving those honkin’ big milk cans around in a van in which I could not stand. Dr. Smith helped me a great deal. He knew we were low on money and they were already good friends with Della, so he treated me free. He helped so much I have continued to see chiropractors for back problems the rest of my life. Yes, I still do.

It was August before I heard from Rev. Orthner. He had a place I could go for an interview. It was not as the pastor, but as the Christian Education Director. While I loved that area of ministry, I was a little disappointed. Miss A often discussed the importance of this ministry coming down through the pastor. I also was reminded that beggars could not be choosers and agreed to go. It might be my only opportunity. It was a struggle to find some days Della and I could both go, but off we went to an interview at University Drive Alliance Church in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan. I knew nothing about the church or what to expect. I was told it was the largest church in the Canadian Midwest District. We went. We prayed all the way asking God that this door would be one we could walk thought. We both believed it had to be Saskatoon. If not there, where? There were no other opportunities. Rev. Orthner had nothing else available and he was the only one looking for us. If we were not accepted, I would have to find a job in Red Deer.

I was OK with that, but if we stayed in Red Deer, we needed a better bed.

Welcome to Saskatoon.